The following is a list of fictional ''
Star Wars
''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop-culture Cultural impact of S ...
''
terrestrial vehicles, including
armoured fighting vehicles,
military aircraft
A military aircraft is any fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft that is operated by a legal or insurrectionary armed service of any type. Military aircraft can be either combat or non-combat:
* Combat aircraft are designed to destroy enemy equipm ...
, and
naval ships.
Vehicles appearing in the Original Trilogy
All Terrain Armored Transport (AT-AT)
The All Terrain Armored Transport, or walker, is a
quadruped mechanized infantry combat vehicle
An infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle (MICV), is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide direct fire, direct-fire support. The 1990 Treaty on Convention ...
used by the Imperial ground forces. Standing over tall with blast-impervious armour plating, these massive constructs are used as much for
psychological effect as they are for tactical advantage.
The AT-AT (pronounced either casually as 'at at', or using only the letters '') was first introduced in ''
The Empire Strikes Back'' (as the
Galactic Empire
Galactic empires are a common trope used in science fantasy and science fiction, particularly in works known as 'space operas'. Many authors have either used a galaxy-spanning empire as background or written about the growth and/or decline of s ...
's main units against
Rebel Alliance infantry during the
Battle of Hoth
''The Empire Strikes Back'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back'') is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner from a screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, based on a story ...
) and also appears in ''
Return of the Jedi'' (as the vehicle used to transport
Luke Skywalker and
Darth Vader to their shuttle on the forest moon of
Endor Endor or Ein Dor may refer to:
Places
* Endor (village), from the Hebrew Bible, a Canaanite village where the Witch of Endor lived
* Indur, a Palestinian village depopulated during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war
* Ein Dor, a Kibbutz in modern Israel
Fi ...
) and in ''
Rogue One'' (in the AT-ACT variant, used to respond to the attacks of Rebel infantrymen of the Rogue One unit during the
Battle of Scarif, although later defeated by the arriving Rebel Red Squadron of starfighers). The also appears in a destroyed form in ''
Star Wars: The Force Awakens'', explained in the video game ''
Star Wars Battlefront
''Star Wars: Battlefront'' is a series of first- and third-person shooter video games based on the ''Star Wars'' franchise. Players take the role of characters from the franchise in either of two opposing factions in different time periods of ...
'' (2015) to be a residue of the Battle of Jakku, which was the Empire's last defeat and resulted in its dissolution.
Modified forms appear in ''
The Last Jedi'' (used by the
First Order
In mathematics and other formal sciences, first-order or first order most often means either:
* "linear" (a polynomial of degree at most one), as in first-order approximation and other calculus uses, where it is contrasted with "polynomials of high ...
to attack
Resistance
Resistance may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Comics
* Either of two similarly named but otherwise unrelated comic book series, both published by Wildstorm:
** ''Resistance'' (comics), based on the video game of the same title
** ''T ...
forces in a former Rebel base).
All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST)
The All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST) is a two-legged
mech
In science fiction, or mechs are giant robots or machines controlled by people, typically depicted as humanoid walking vehicles. The term was first used in Japanese (language), Japanese after shortening the English loanword or , but the mean ...
walker introduced briefly in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and featured extensively in ''Return of the Jedi''. These vehicles were designed to
screen and protect the flanks of slower moving AT-ATs and the larger tanks used by the Empire. Due to their design and movement, they are often dubbed as a "
chicken walker".
The name Scout Walker is also used to refer to an . This name was used for the official toy instead of the name.
An AT-ST also appears briefly in ''
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,'' patrolling Jedha City following an attack by
Saw Gerrera
Saw Gerrera is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He was originally introduced as a minor character in the animated series '' Star Wars: The Clone Wars'', where he was voiced by Andrew Kishino. He was subsequently played by Fo ...
's forces. A modified AT-ST later appears in ''
The Mandalorian'' under the possession of a group of raiders, as the Empire has ceased to exist by the time of the series. An updated model of the AT-ST is used by the First Order in ''The Last Jedi''. Shortly before the film's climax, an AT-ST is commandeered by
BB-8.
Cloud car
Cloud cars fly around
Bespin
The fictional universe of the ''Star Wars'' franchise features multiple planets and moons. While only the feature films and selected other works are considered canon to the franchise since the 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm by The Walt Disney ...
's
Cloud City in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Return of the Jedi''. Compositing the cloud cars into the original releases required multiple motion control passes to prevent the vehicles from standing out too distinctly from their cloudy background. Cloud cars were designed to have two cockpits that were interconnected with a small compartment block. It was often a red-orange color with each cockpit arranged in a "shoe-shape" with the glass being on the "tongue" of the cockpit.
Like the rest of Cloud City, cloud cars were designed to reflect a more refined
art deco
Art Deco, short for the French ''Arts Décoratifs'', and sometimes just called Deco, is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design, that first appeared in France in the 1910s (just before World War I), and flourished in the Unite ...
style. The scale models originally created for the movies were made of plastic parts using the then-new method of
vacuum forming
Vacuum forming is a simplified version of thermoforming, where a sheet of plastic (in various forms HIPS (High impact polystyrene) for low impact products, or for Bathroom shower trays ABS, and exterior vehicle parts HDPE, plus various other ty ...
. Cloud cars inserted into the films' Special Edition releases were
computer-generated.
Within the ''Star Wars'' universe, these cloud cars (formally identified as Storm IV Twin-Pod models) were built by Bespin Motors specifically as atmospheric patrol craft. The unusual vehicles consist of two separate pods connected together, one for a pilot and the other for a gunner. It can achieve low orbit and attain speeds of thanks to a combination of
repulsorlift drive and
ion engine. Each pod is armed with a light blaster cannon and protected with armor plating and an armored canopy. While normally the port-side pod houses the pilot and starboard-side houses the gunner, both pods contain all the equipment necessary to fulfill either role in the event one is damaged.
[Barr, et al (2019), p. 332]
Desert Skiff
A pair of skiffs travel with Jabba's
sail barge
The following is a list of fictional ''Star Wars'' terrestrial vehicles, including armoured fighting vehicles, military aircraft, and naval ships.
Vehicles appearing in the Original Trilogy
All Terrain Armored Transport (AT-AT)
The All ...
in ''Return of the Jedi''. The skiff was originally conceived as a flying animal carrying strapped-on passenger modules.
It was modified to be a nautical-type vehicle, and then transitioned to become more utilitarian.
A full-size skiff was built alongside the sail barge in Yuma. An 81-centimeter miniature was also built, and it was "crewed" by poseable puppets.
Skiffs are a common mode of transport on many ''Star Wars'' worlds as per in-universe sources, utilizing
repulsorlift technology to move cargo and passengers on the cheap. The Bantha-II cargo skiffs seen in ''Return of the Jedi'' are also a favorite of various criminal organizations, which use them for raids and prisoner exchanges. Built by Ubrikkian Industries, they are long, with an armored bow to withstand head-on collisions, and can reach speeds of .
[Landry (2018), p. 54][Barr, et al (2019), p. 305]
Jabba's Sail Barge (''Khetanna'')
A sail barge delivers
Jabba the Hutt and his entourage to the
sarlacc
The sarlacc (plural sarlacci) is a fictional creature in George Lucas's sci-fi action saga ''Star Wars''. It first appeared in the film ''Return of the Jedi'' (1983) as a multi-tentacled alien beast whose immense, gaping maw is lined with sever ...
pit in ''Return of the Jedi''. Illustrator
Ralph McQuarrie designed the ship to appear more utilitarian in comparison to early designs, which made the ship reminiscent of a
Baroque
The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including t ...
sea craft.
Joe Johnston continued working on the design after McQuarrie stepped away from the project.
[Walker (2018), p. 54-55] A full-scale sail barge set was erected in
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma ( coc, Yuum) is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. The city's population was 93,064 at the 2010 census, up from the 2000 census population of 77,515.
Yuma is the principal city of the Yuma, Arizona, M ...
; it was one of the largest ''Star Wars'' sets created. Measuring 150 feet long, 130 feet wide and 65 feet high, the sail barge set was supported by 130 wooden posts, each 27 feet high, which were deeply embedded into the ground. Underneath the barge were several offices and a
commissary which could feed 150 people. In order to get to the set, a two-mile road made of compacted sand was built, requiring roughly 80,000 gallons of water to construct.
According to ''Star Wars'' references, Jabba's sail barge is named the ''Khetanna'' and was built by Ubrikkian Industries as a pleasure barge for the crime lord. At long, it is powered by a
repulsorlift engine to reach a maximum speed of but can also use its two sails to slowly travel by air power. While designed purely as a pleasure barge, the ''Khetanna'' is fitted with a laser cannon turret and heavy blasters can be mounted on the railings.
Landspeeder
Landspeeders are antigravity vehicles that appear throughout the films and Expanded Universe in both civilian and military roles. They appear in '' Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope''.
Sandcrawler
C-3PO (Anthony Daniels
Anthony Daniels ( ; born 21 February 1946) is an English actor and mime artist, best known for playing in 10 ''Star Wars'' films. He is the only actor to have either appeared in or been involved with all theatrical films in the series, and h ...
) and R2-D2 ( Kenny Baker) are briefly held in a Jawa sandcrawler in '' Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope''. Shots of the sandcrawler at a distance were actually a matte painting; only two of its treads and a 27-meter-long piece of its lower structure were actually built. For shots involving the vehicle's movement, ILM used a 125-centimeter radio-controlled model. A computer-generated sandcrawler briefly appears in ''The Phantom Menace'', and a sandcrawler also appears in ''Attack of the Clones''. Sandcrawler-related merchandise include a Lego
Lego ( , ; stylized as LEGO) is a line of plastic construction toys that are manufactured by The Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of variously colored interlocking ...
model, card game items, and Hasbro and Micro Machines toys.
Skyhopper
An Incom Corporation T-16 skyhopper appears in the background of the Lars residence in ''A New Hope'', and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill
Mark Richard Hamill (; born September 25, 1951) is an American actor and writer. He is known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the ''Star Wars'' film series, beginning with the original 1977 film and subsequently winning three Saturn Awards f ...
) races a skyhopper in National Public Radio
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other n ...
's radio adaptation of that movie; a skyhopper also appears at the end of the Special Edition release of ''Return of the Jedi''. The skyhopper model that Skywalker handles in ''A New Hope'' is the concept model Colin Cantwell
Colin James Cantwell (April 3, 1932 – May 21, 2022) was an American concept artist and director known for his work on films like '' 2001: A Space Odyssey'' and ''WarGames'', but primarily for doing initial concept designs and models for a num ...
built; budget limitations allowed only a partial full-size mock-up of the craft to be built.
In '' Star Wars: Rebel Assault'', skyhoppers are used by Rebel pilots to train in Tatooine's Beggar's canyon.
Snowspeeder (T-47 Airspeeder)
A T-47 airspeeder, better known as "snowspeeder", is a Rebel Alliance vehicle featured in '' The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980) and several books, comics, and video games in the ''Star Wars'' Expanded Universe and also in Atari game cartridges in the 80's. Snowspeeder models and replicas have been merchandised by several companies.
;Origin and design
During production of ''The Empire Strikes Back'', designer Joe Johnston conceived a ship that combined the body of an X-wing and the cockpit of the Y-wing
The Koensayr BTL Y-wing assault starfighter/bomber are a series of fictional spacecraft from the '' Star Wars'' franchise. They are depicted as the star fighters of the Galactic Republic, Rebel Alliance, New Republic, and the Resistance; being ...
. However, this design was scrapped for the T-47, which featured no elements from previous craft. Johnston's designs for the Snowspeeders have influenced later ''Star Wars'' designers, such as Tommy Lee Edwards
Tommy Lee Edwards is an American illustrator. Edwards' varied portfolio includes works created in the realm of comics, video games, books, advertising, film, and animation.
Career
As well as comic-related work he has also worked on film projects ...
.
The models were built in three different scales by Steve Gawley
Steve Gawley (born 1952) is a visual effects artist who was nominated at the 62nd Academy Awards in the category of Best Visual effects for his work on the film ''Back to the Future Part II''. His nomination was shared with John Bell, Michael L ...
, Charlie Bailey, and Mike Fulmer of ILM, with the smallest (20 inches) used for motion control photography, and the largest (2½ feet) for hero and pyrotechnic shots. All models included motor-controlled flaps to imply maneuverability, and the largest version also possessed motor-articulated crew Several full-scale props were built in London for the hangar, cockpit, and speeder crash scenes.
;Depiction
According to background sources, the Rebel Alliance received a small squadron of modified T-47 airspeeders – aircraft which utilize repulsorlifts to achieve flight – shortly after establishing Echo Base on Hoth. These civilian speeders, originally meant for retrieving and hauling cargo sleds with their tow cables, were converted for military use by bolting on a pair of laser cannons with accompanying power converters and laser generator system.[ Additional armor plating was also added on to increase protection;][ this armor was originally carried by ]Y-wing
The Koensayr BTL Y-wing assault starfighter/bomber are a series of fictional spacecraft from the '' Star Wars'' franchise. They are depicted as the star fighters of the Galactic Republic, Rebel Alliance, New Republic, and the Resistance; being ...
starfighters but removed by Rebel technicians to ease maintenance. These modifications made the T-47 a highly maneuverable short-range attack craft which uses its speed and agility to avoid being hit.[ However, the intense environment of Hoth initially proved too hostile to these T-47s as the cold temperatures would cause their power generators to lock up. Only after Rebel mechanics modified the heat radiator fins at the back of the ships to make them less efficient was this problem resolved and they become more commonly known as snowspeeders.][
In ''The Empire Strikes Back'', Rogue Squadron, led by Commander Luke Skywalker (]Mark Hamill
Mark Richard Hamill (; born September 25, 1951) is an American actor and writer. He is known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the ''Star Wars'' film series, beginning with the original 1977 film and subsequently winning three Saturn Awards f ...
), pilots snowspeeders against Imperial
Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor, or imperialism.
Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to:
Places
United States
* Imperial, California
* Imperial, Missouri
* Imperial, Nebraska
* Imperial, Pennsylvania
* Imperial, Texa ...
AT-AT
All Terrain Walkers are armoured fighting vehicles from the ''Star Wars'' universe that traverse the landscape on mechanical legs. They are used by the Old Republic, the Galactic Empire, and the First Order for ground assault, reconnaissance ...
walkers during the Battle of Hoth
''The Empire Strikes Back'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back'') is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner from a screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, based on a story ...
.[Barr, et al. (2019), p. 330] However, when the snowspeeders' weaponry proves incapable of piercing the assault walkers' thick armoring, Luke devises the unconventional strategy of using their tow cables to entangle the AT-ATs.[ Although Luke's gunner, Dak Ralter, is killed before he can try the maneuver himself, ]Wedge Antilles
Wedge Antilles is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He is a supporting character portrayed by Denis Lawson in the original ''Star Wars'' trilogy. He is also featured in the ''Star Wars'' expanded universe, most notably as ...
and Wes Janson
Rogue Squadron is a fictional Military spacecraft in fiction, starfighter squadron (aviation), squadron in the Star Wars, ''Star Wars'' franchise. Many surviving members of Red Squadron, the Rebel Alliance, Rebel attack force that Luke Skywalk ...
succeed in tripping up an AT-AT with their snowspeeder and destroying it with a well-placed shot to its neck.[ While ultimately the Rebels lose the Battle of Hoth, the snowspeeder earns an honored place in the history books for the role it played.][
;Merchandise
Kenner released a toy snowspeeder in 1980. Kenner re-released an updated version utilizing the same mold in 1995 for their new 'Power of the Force' line. After Hasbro shut down the Kenner offices in 1999, it was released several times under Hasbro's brand name: in 2001 as a Wal-Mart exclusive in the "Power of the Jedi" collection, in 2006 as a Target exclusive in the "Saga Collection" line, and three versions of it in the 2010 "The Vintage Collection", including a Target exclusive packaged as the original 1980 Kenner version.
]LEGO
Lego ( , ; stylized as LEGO) is a line of plastic construction toys that are manufactured by The Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of variously colored interlocking ...
has also sold snowspeeder models, and Snowspeeder models used in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' have been sold online.
Hasbro's Star Wars Transformers
image:SoloChewieTransformer.jpg, The Transformers, Transformer figures of Chewbacca (left) and Han Solo (center) combine to create the ''Millennium Falcon''.
''Star Wars'' Transformers is a Hasbro toy line started in 2006. The line features robot ...
line included a Snowspeeder that transformed into Luke Skywalker.
In 2009, Japanese model manufacturer Fine Molds released a 1/48 scale kit of the Snowspeeder.
Speeder bike
Speeder bikes first appear in a chase scene in '' Return of the Jedi'' and have appeared in various other ''Star Wars'' media. Related vehicles called 'swoop bikes' have also appeared in ''Star Wars'' films and other media.
Vehicles appearing in the Prequel Trilogy
Armored Assault Tank (AAT)
The AAT is a Trade Federation
Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market.
An early form of trade, barter, saw the direct excha ...
vehicle that appears in '' The Phantom Menace'', ''Revenge of the Sith
Revenge is committing a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. Francis Bacon described revenge as a kind of "wild justice" that "does... offend the law ndputteth the law out of office." Pr ...
'', and other ''Star Wars'' media. Early drafts of ''The Phantom Menace'' described the Trade Federation's invasion of Naboo being led by "armored attack craft" that resembled helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward and laterally. These attributes ...
s.[Walker (2018), p. 74] George Lucas
George Walton Lucas Jr. (born May 14, 1944) is an American filmmaker. Lucas is best known for creating the ''Star Wars'' and ''Indiana Jones'' franchises and founding Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic and THX. He served as chairm ...
narrowed down the AAT's design after looking at two different drawings from ILM design director Doug Chiang
Doug Chiang (; born 16 February 1962) is an American film designer and artist. He currently serves as vice president and executive creative director of Lucasfilm.
Early life
Chiang was born in Taipei, Taiwan. His dad had gone to Michigan in th ...
- one tank-like and the other shaped like a flying spade - and deciding it would be interesting to combine the two together.[ The final version's forward curve is based on the curve of a shovel, and parts of it are intended to suggest animalistic traits.] LEGO
Lego ( , ; stylized as LEGO) is a line of plastic construction toys that are manufactured by The Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of variously colored interlocking ...
released an AAT model in 2001.
In-universe reference material describes the AAT as a battle tank designed specifically for head-on combat, with a very heavily armored front and a nose of almost solid armor so it can crash through heavy walls.[Dougherty, et al. (2020), p. 46-47] First manufactured for the Trade Federation by the Baktoid Armor Workshop, the AAT floats above the ground thanks to anti-gravity " repulsorlift" technology and can achieve a top speed of .[Walker (2018), p. 47] At long, the AAT is crewed by four battle droid
In the ''Star Wars'' space opera franchise, a droid is a fictional robot possessing some degree of artificial intelligence''.'' The term is a clipped form of " android", a word originally reserved for robots designed to look and act like a huma ...
s: a commander, a pilot and two gunners. Up to six additional battle droids can use handholds on either side of the tank's body to ride into battle.[ It is heavily armed with a primary turret-mounted heavy laser cannon; matching pairs of anti-personnel laser cannons and ]laser rangefinder
A laser rangefinder, also known as a laser telemeter, is a rangefinder that uses a laser beam to determine the distance to an object. The most common form of laser rangefinder operates on the time of flight principle by sending a laser pulse in ...
s which extend out either side on stalks; and two forward-facing short-ranged blaster cannons in the tank's main body.[Barr, et al. (2019), p. 294] The base of the tank also incorporates six energized projectile launchers which carry three main ammunition types: "bunker-buster" high explosive
An explosive (or explosive material) is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. An exp ...
shells, armor-piercing shells and high-energy shells. When fired, these shells are cocooned in high-energy plasma which reduces air friction
In fluid dynamics, drag (sometimes called air resistance, a type of friction, or fluid resistance, another type of friction or fluid friction) is a force acting opposite to the relative motion of any object moving with respect to a surrounding flu ...
and improves penetration. In order to reload the launchers though, the entire "foot" of the AAT must be removed and a loaded replacement installed using mechanical facilities.[
]
Bongo Submarine
The Gungan "bongo" submarine is a transport in ''The Phantom Menace''. Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi () is a fictional Character (arts), character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. Within the Star Wars original trilogy, original trilogy, Obi-Wan is a Jedi Master as a supporting character and is portrayed by English actor Alec Guinn ...
( Ewan McGregor), Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson
William John Neeson (born 7 June 1952) is an actor from Northern Ireland. He has received several accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Tony Awards. In 2020, he was placed 7th on ''The I ...
), and Jar Jar Binks
Jar Jar Binks is a fictional character of the Gungan race from the ''Star Wars'' saga created by George Lucas. Jar Jar appears throughout the ''Star Wars'' prequel trilogy – as a major character in '' Episode I: The Phantom Menace'', with a ...
(Ahmed Best
Ahmed Best (born August 19, 1973) is an American actor, comedian and musician. He is known for providing motion capture and the voice of the character of Jar Jar Binks in the ''Star Wars'' franchise.
Best likewise collaborated with director Geor ...
) use a bongo to travel from the underwater city of Otah Gunga to the Naboo capital of Theed.
Industrial Light & Magic
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) is an American motion picture visual effects company that was founded on May 26, 1975 by George Lucas. It is a division of the film production company Lucasfilm, which Lucas founded, and was created when he began pro ...
's Doug Chiang
Doug Chiang (; born 16 February 1962) is an American film designer and artist. He currently serves as vice president and executive creative director of Lucasfilm.
Early life
Chiang was born in Taipei, Taiwan. His dad had gone to Michigan in th ...
devised the submarine's squid-like propeller design. This assembly was then merged with the design for a manta
Manta or mantas may refer to:
* Manta ray, large fish belonging to the genus ''Manta''
Arts and entertainment Fictional entities
* Manta (comics), a character in American Marvel Comics publications
* Manta (''Uridium''), a spaceship in the Bri ...
-shaped underwater transport written out of an earlier draft of the story. This design replaced earlier concepts that depicted the Gungan vessel as an organic-looking diving bell
A diving bell is a rigid chamber used to transport divers from the surface to depth and back in open water, usually for the purpose of performing underwater work. The most common types are the open-bottomed wet bell and the closed bell, which c ...
. Practical and CGI models of the Gungan vessel were built, as well as a full-size set for the actors to work in.
Within the Star Wars universe, the Bongo is described as being organically grown by secret Gungan techniques and so no two are exactly alike. The submersible piloted by Jar-Jar, Obi-Wan and Qua-Gon was a Tribubble bongo long and manufactured by the Otoh Gunga Bongmeken Cooperative. It used hydrostatic
Fluid statics or hydrostatics is the branch of fluid mechanics that studies the condition of the equilibrium of a floating body and submerged body "fluids at hydrostatic equilibrium and the pressure in a fluid, or exerted by a fluid, on an imme ...
bubble shields to keep the cockpit and cargo areas dry and filled with air. The cluster of semi-rigid electromotive tentacles at the submersible's rear could propel it to a top speed of . It was unarmed but in an emergency the cockpit section could detach from the rest of the submersible as an escape pod.[
]
Clone turbo tank (HAVw A6 Juggernaut)
The turbo tank is a ten-wheeled battle tank and armored personnel carrier that appears in ''Revenge of the Sith'' and is based on designs done by Joe Johnston for use in '' The Empire Strikes Back''. West End Games based their "HAVw A5 Juggernaut" design on Johnson's sketches. The larger, more heavily armed vehicle that appears in ''Revenge of the Sith'' is labeled "HAVw A6".
The clone turbo tank, more formally the HAVw A6 Juggernaut, is described in ''Star Wars'' sources as being built by Kuat Drive Yards to serve as a heavily armed and armored military transport for the Republic
A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
during the Clone Wars Clone Wars may refer to:
Star Wars Film and television
* ''Star Wars: Clone Wars'' (2003 TV series), an American animated television series set in the ''Star Wars'' galaxy
* ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' (2008 TV series), an American 3D CGI anim ...
.[Walker (2018), p. 193][Barr, et al. (2019), p. 311] Measuring long, wide and high, the massive tank can carry as many as 300 clone trooper
Clone troopers are fictional characters in the ''Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. They have been featured in a number of ''Star Wars'' media, including the live-action films '' Episode II: Attack of the Clones'' (2002) and '' Ep ...
s into battle depending on internal configuration. Each of the Juggernaut's ten wheels consists of three independently spinning segments and utilize independent suspension
Independent suspension is any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically (i.e. reacting to a bump on the road) independently of the others. This is contrasted with a beam axle or deDion axle system in w ...
to travel across nearly any terrain.[Dougherty, et al. (2020), p. 92-93] Designed to absorb enemy fire, they help the tank achieve a maximum speed of .[ A crew of 12 operates the Juggernaut and can control it from cockpits located at either end of the tank.][ The Juggernaut's nearly impregnable armor plating is thermally ]superconductive
Superconductivity is a set of physical properties observed in certain materials where electrical resistance vanishes and magnetic flux fields are expelled from the material. Any material exhibiting these properties is a superconductor. Unlike ...
to absorb and spread heat over a wider area. For weaponry it is equipped with a heavy laser cannon turret and rapid-repeating heavy laser cannon turret on the roof; two side-mounted medium antipersonnel laser cannons that extend out from either side of the hull; two twin antipersonnel blaster cannons under the 'forward' cockpit; and two retractable rocket/grenade launchers.[
After the end of the Clone Wars, the tank continues to serve the ]Galactic Empire
Galactic empires are a common trope used in science fantasy and science fiction, particularly in works known as 'space operas'. Many authors have either used a galaxy-spanning empire as background or written about the growth and/or decline of s ...
. A later model, the HCVw A9, appears in '' Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'' being used as a prisoner transport carrying Jyn Erso
Jyn Erso is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise, portrayed by English actress Felicity Jones in the 2016 film ''Rogue One''. Jyn aids the Rebel Alliance in a desperate attempt to steal the plans to the Death Star, a weapon of t ...
(Felicity Jones
Felicity Rose Hadley Jones (born 17 October 1983) is a British actress. She started her professional acting career as a child, appearing in '' The Treasure Seekers'' (1996) at age 12. She went on to play Ethel Hallow for one series of the tele ...
).[
]
Corporate Alliance tank droid
Corporate Alliance tank droids appear in ''Revenge of the Sith'' and have appeared in other ''Star Wars'' media, including as playable vehicles in '' Battlefront II''. This "snail droid" was originally designed for '' Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones'' for the climactic Battle of Geonosis, but they did not make it into the final cut of the film.
Formally identified in background material as the NR-N99 ''Persuader''-class droid enforcer, these tanks are manufactured by the Techno Union and primarily used by the Corporate Alliance, which sides with the Separatists during the Clone Wars Clone Wars may refer to:
Star Wars Film and television
* ''Star Wars: Clone Wars'' (2003 TV series), an American animated television series set in the ''Star Wars'' galaxy
* ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' (2008 TV series), an American 3D CGI anim ...
. This -long tank is designed to function on its own with a built-in droid brain, though it can also be controlled by a pilot battle droid
In the ''Star Wars'' space opera franchise, a droid is a fictional robot possessing some degree of artificial intelligence''.'' The term is a clipped form of " android", a word originally reserved for robots designed to look and act like a huma ...
. Consisting of a huge central tread and forward-mounted outrigger
An outrigger is a projecting structure on a boat, with specific meaning depending on types of vessel. Outriggers may also refer to legs on a wheeled vehicle that are folded out when it needs stabilization, for example on a crane that lifts ...
s, the tank droid can cross almost any terrain with ease and achieve a top speed of . Its weaponry includes two heavy repeating blasters, two ion cannons, and missile launchers.
Dwarf spider droid
The Dwarf spider droid is first seen being used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems in ''Attack of the Clones'' during the Battle of Geonosis and have featured in other ''Star Wars'' media. Hasbro released a spider droid figure in 2003.
The DSD1 dwarf spider droid, as it is identified in background material, is essentially a walking cannon with a droid brain, built by the Baktoid Armor Workshop to fight for the Separatists during the Clone Wars Clone Wars may refer to:
Star Wars Film and television
* ''Star Wars: Clone Wars'' (2003 TV series), an American animated television series set in the ''Star Wars'' galaxy
* ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' (2008 TV series), an American 3D CGI anim ...
. Standing only tall, it is also known as the burrowing spider droid for its ability to fit in tight spaces. Its primary weapon is a long blaster cannon capable of firing at different intensities and rates of fire, though it can also willingly utilize a self-destruct device to blow up the enemy. A pair of infrared
Infrared (IR), sometimes called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than those of visible light. It is therefore invisible to the human eye. IR is generally understood to encompass wavelengths from around ...
photoreceptors on the armored brain casing allow the spider droid to see its surroundings while four articulated legs are designed to affix to the sides of cliffs so it may climb difficult terrain. It can achieve a maximum speed of .[Barr, et al. (2017), p. 130-131]
HMP Droid gunship
Droid gunships appear at the Battle of Kashyyyk
Wookiees () are fictional humanoid aliens in the ''Star Wars'' universe, native to the forest planet Kashyyyk. They are distinguished from humans by their gigantism, hirsutism, and physical strength. The most prominent Wookiee is Chewbacca, c ...
in ''Revenge of the Sith'' and '' Star Wars: Battlefront II''. Their circular shape is designed to be reminiscent of the Trade Federation ships seen in ''The Phantom Menace''. These ships were originally intended to appear in the movie's opening space battle, but were ultimately depicted as aircraft.
Described by in-universe material as the Separatist counterpart to the Republic
A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
's LAAT
''Laat'' (Sindhi language, Sindhi لاٽ) is a children's magazine in Sindhi language, Sindhi published by Mehran Publication Hyderabad, Sindh. It started in 1988 and got immediate attention of Sindhi children. It was founded by Altaf Malkani and ...
, the Heavy Missile Platform droid gunship (or HMP Predator) is a heavily armed repulsorlift airspeeder which can be adapted for a wide range of mission profiles.[Walker (2018), p. 16][Barr, et al. (2019), p. 308] Mass-produced by Baktoid Fleet Ordnance on numerous worlds, the HMP is controlled by an advanced droid brain and measures long, wide and high.[Dougherty, et al. (2020), p. 90-91] The gunship possesses a top speed of .[ However it is considered relatively slow and with average maneuverability, compensated for by its ability to unleash incredible firepower and strong deflector shields.][ Its weaponry can be changed out depending on what's needed, but standard armament includes a chin-mounted medium laser cannon, two twin laser cannon turrets, wingtip-mounted light laser cannons, and fourteen missiles fitted with variable payloads including ]high explosive
An explosive (or explosive material) is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. An exp ...
, EMP, incendiary and hard radiation
Ionizing radiation (or ionising radiation), including nuclear radiation, consists of subatomic particles or electromagnetic waves that have sufficient energy to ionize atoms or molecules by detaching electrons from them. Some particles can travel ...
.[ The gunship can also be modified to serve as a troop carrier for ]battle droid
In the ''Star Wars'' space opera franchise, a droid is a fictional robot possessing some degree of artificial intelligence''.'' The term is a clipped form of " android", a word originally reserved for robots designed to look and act like a huma ...
s.[
]
Flash speeder
The Naboo Royal Security Forces use Flash speeders in ''The Phantom Menace''.
Gian speeder
The Naboo Royal Security Forces use Gian speeders in ''The Phantom Menace''.
They are larger, heavier counterparts to the NRSF Flash Speeders, and are used mainly for skirmishes against pirates and smugglers. However, they are still modified civilian landspeeeders, and prove relatively useless against Trade Federation tanks. They are painted purple, carry one medium blaster cannon, and have seating for four NRSF officers. They also have light armour plating for protection against hand-held blasters, but there is little protection for the vehicles occupants.
Hailfire droid tank
Hailfire droids are mobile missile platforms that appear in ''Attack of the Clones'' during the Battle of Geonosis and have featured in other ''Star Wars'' media associated with the Clone Wars Clone Wars may refer to:
Star Wars Film and television
* ''Star Wars: Clone Wars'' (2003 TV series), an American animated television series set in the ''Star Wars'' galaxy
* ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' (2008 TV series), an American 3D CGI anim ...
. In-universe material identifies them as IG-227 ''Hailfire''-class droid tanks produced by Haor Chall Engineering and commissioned for the InterGalactic Banking Clan prior to the Clone Wars to assist with debt collection. Standing tall and capable of , they consist of two large wheels with a low-fixed base on which is mounted a targeting photoreceptor, twin chin-mounted blaster cannons, and two missile launchers. Each launcher can carry up to 15 missiles, which have an effective range of less than one kilometre
The kilometre ( SI symbol: km; or ), spelt kilometer in American English, is a unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), equal to one thousand metres (kilo- being the SI prefix for ). It is now the measurement unit used for ex ...
following deliberately evasive trajectories to their target. Although an effective platform against both ground and air targets, the Hailfire was phased out during the Clone Wars because of its limited ammunition supply.[Barr, et al. (2019), p. 303]
Joe Pappalardo of ''Popular Mechanics
''Popular Mechanics'' (sometimes PM or PopMech) is a magazine of popular science and technology, featuring automotive, home, outdoor, electronics, science, do-it-yourself, and technology topics. Military topics, aviation and transportation o ...
'', in analyzing several different Star Wars vehicles, gave a mixed review of the Hailfire droid. He praised it for being a wheeled vehicle
A wheel is a circular component that is intended to rotate on an axle bearing. The wheel is one of the key components of the wheel and axle which is one of the six simple machines. Wheels, in conjunction with axles, allow heavy objects to be ...
instead of a walking vehicle and noted that having the robot body suspended between wheels is a popular real-world design which allows robots to right themselves. However he argues the design's wheel size is too big for effectively traversing large obstacles, citing research done by Caltech
The California Institute of Technology (branded as Caltech or CIT)The university itself only spells its short form as "Caltech"; the institution considers other spellings such a"Cal Tech" and "CalTech" incorrect. The institute is also occasional ...
and NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...
on the issue. He also criticized the negative camber
Camber angle is one of the angles made by the wheels of a vehicle; specifically, it is the angle between the vertical axis of a wheel and the vertical axis of the vehicle when viewed from the front or rear. It is used in the design of steering an ...
of the wheels for having no discernable purpose.
Homing spider droid
The OG-9 homing spider droid appears in ''Attack of the Clones'' during the Battle of Geonosis and features in other ''Star Wars'' media, including as a playable vehicle in ''Battlefront II''. During post-production, the droid was referred to as "Commerce Guild droid B." Referred to in source material as the OG-9 homing spider droid, these droid walking tanks were manufactured by Baktoid Armor Workshop for the Commerce Guild to enforce their contracts. It consists of an armored reactor core body attached to four armored legs, giving it a height of . While the legs are thin they are tougher than they look, allowing the droid to traverse nearly any terrain and achieve a top speed of . Its primary weapons are two dish-shaped laser cannons mounted on the top and bottom of the reactor core: the top-mounted cannon primarily releases sustains bursts to wear down deflector shields, while the bottom cannon suppresses enemy infantry.[
Joe Pappalardo of ''Popular Mechanics'' praised the design of the Homing spider droid for mirroring the design of a real-world robot, RoboSimian, designed by ]JPL
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center in the City of La Cañada Flintridge, California, United States.
Founded in the 1930s by Caltech researchers, JPL is owned by NASA an ...
for traversing rough terrain. However he criticized it's apparent slow speed during the final battle in ''Attack of the Clones'' and argues that destroying one of its legs would quickly knock the robot out of a fight.
Multi-troop transport (MTT)
The Multi-Troop Transports or MTTs made their first appearance in ''The Phantom Menace'', carrying and deploying Trade Federation battle droid
In the ''Star Wars'' space opera franchise, a droid is a fictional robot possessing some degree of artificial intelligence''.'' The term is a clipped form of " android", a word originally reserved for robots designed to look and act like a huma ...
s during the invasion of Naboo. As with the AAT, parts of the MTT are intended to suggest animalistic traits. Lucas requested the MTT have locomotive
A locomotive or engine is a rail transport vehicle that provides the Power (physics), motive power for a train. If a locomotive is capable of carrying a payload, it is usually rather referred to as a multiple unit, Motor coach (rail), motor ...
-type qualities and be capable of knocking down everything in its path; consequently, the MTT has battering rams and locomotive components. Although the MTT was primarily created using computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery (CGI) is the use of computer graphics to create or contribute to images in art, printed media, video games, simulators, and visual effects in films, television programs, shorts, commercials, and videos. The images may ...
(CGI), a scale model
A scale model is a physical model which is geometrically similar to an object (known as the prototype). Scale models are generally smaller than large prototypes such as vehicles, buildings, or people; but may be larger than small prototypes ...
was also built to film certain scenes of ''The Phantom Menace'', combining elements of practical and digital special effects.[Landry (2019), p. 72]
Fictional background for the MTT explains it was originally produced by Baktoid Armor Workshop, the same manufacturer of the Trade Federation's AAT. Measuring long and tall, the MTT is designed to deploy in traditional battle lines, hence its strong frontal armor.[Dougherty, et al. (2020), p. 20-21] Although floating above the ground on heavy-duty " repulsorlift" engines, the MTT is a lumbering vehicle with a top speed of only .[Walker (2018), p. 46] A crew of five battle droid
In the ''Star Wars'' space opera franchise, a droid is a fictional robot possessing some degree of artificial intelligence''.'' The term is a clipped form of " android", a word originally reserved for robots designed to look and act like a huma ...
s operate the MTT and it is armed with a pair of twin 17kv antipersonnel blaster cannons, but its primary purpose is to carry 112 battle droids into battle. These are stored folded-up on an articulated deployment rack, which extends forward out of the MTT's bulbous front end via troop deployment hatch.[Barr, et al. (2019), p. 293] During the Clone Wars Clone Wars may refer to:
Star Wars Film and television
* ''Star Wars: Clone Wars'' (2003 TV series), an American animated television series set in the ''Star Wars'' galaxy
* ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' (2008 TV series), an American 3D CGI anim ...
, MTTS were modified to carry larger Super Battle Droids
In the ''Star Wars'' space opera franchise, a droid is a fictional robot possessing some degree of artificial intelligence''.'' The term is a Apheresis (linguistics), clipped form of "android (robot), android", a word originally reserved for rob ...
as well.[
]
Podracer
Podracers are high-speed one-man race craft. Anakin Skywalker
Darth Vader is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. The character is the central antagonist of the original trilogy and, as Anakin Skywalker, is one of the main protagonists in the prequel trilogy. ''Star Wars'' creator George ...
(Jake Lloyd
Jake Matthew Lloyd (born March 5, 1989), also known as Jake Broadbent, is an American former actor who portrayed young Anakin Skywalker in the 1999 film '' Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace'' and Jamie Langston in ''Jingle All the Way'' ...
) enters and wins a podrace in ''The Phantom Menace''. It consists of forward turbines attached loosely to the cockpit by a series of cables with the turbines attached to each other by an ion beam. It was frequently gambled upon and was considered by many, including Qui-Gon Jinn, to be a dangerous sport. The video game
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...
s '' Star Wars Episode I: Racer'', '' Star Wars: Racer Arcade'' and ''Star Wars Racer Revenge
''Star Wars Racer Revenge'' is a 2002 ''Star Wars'' video game that involves high-speed podracing. It is the sequel to ''Star Wars Episode I: Racer'', and was developed by Rainbow Studios and published by LucasArts. It was released exclusively for ...
'' are based on ''The Phantom Menace's'' podracing scenes.
Republic assault gunboat
The Republic assault gunboat appears in ''Revenge of the Sith''. The vehicle went through several changes over the course of its development: it was originally a Confederacy capital ship, then became the "Good Guy A" support ship for the Republic. It became a Confederacy ship once more before being scaled down, turned into a speeder, and becoming a Republic craft.
Republic LAAT Gunship
The Low-Altitude Assault Transports (LAATs) are Galactic Republic
The Galactic Republic, often referred to as simply the Republic, is a fictional galactic polity depicted in the ''Star Wars'' universe, where it existed prior to the establishment of the Galactic Empire. The Republic is most prominently por ...
airborne
Airborne or Airborn may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Films
* ''Airborne'' (1962 film), a 1962 American film directed by James Landis
* ''Airborne'' (1993 film), a comedy–drama film
* ''Airborne'' (1998 film), an action film sta ...
attack transport and multirole
A multirole combat aircraft (MRCA) is a combat aircraft intended to perform different roles in combat. These roles can include air to air combat, air support,
aerial bombing, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and suppression of air defens ...
-ground attack
In military tactics, close air support (CAS) is defined as air action such as air strikes by fixed or rotary-winged aircraft against hostile targets near friendly forces and require detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement ...
gunship
A gunship is a military aircraft armed with heavy aircraft guns, primarily intended for attacking ground targets either as airstrike or as close air support.
In modern usage the term "gunship" refers to fixed-wing aircraft having laterally-mo ...
s that appears in ''Attack of the Clones
Attack may refer to:
Warfare and combat
* Offensive (military)
* Charge (warfare)
* Attack (fencing)
* Strike (attack)
* Attack (computing)
* Attack aircraft
Books and publishing
* ''The Attack'' (novel), a book
* '' Attack No. 1'', comic ...
'', ''Revenge of the Sith
Revenge is committing a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. Francis Bacon described revenge as a kind of "wild justice" that "does... offend the law ndputteth the law out of office." Pr ...
'', '' Star Wars: The Clone Wars'', '' Star Wars: Battlefront'', and '' Star Wars: Republic Commando'', ferrying clone trooper
Clone troopers are fictional characters in the ''Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. They have been featured in a number of ''Star Wars'' media, including the live-action films '' Episode II: Attack of the Clones'' (2002) and '' Ep ...
s, Jedi
Jedi (), Jedi Knights, or collectively the Jedi Order are the main heroic protagonists of many works of the '' Star Wars'' franchise. Working symbiotically alongside the Old Galactic Republic, and later supporting the Rebel Alliance, the Jedi O ...
, and military hardware during battle. The Expanded Universe describes the LAAT as a versatile multi-role aerospace crafts capable of reconfigured for the gunship, transport, starfighter, and bomber combat roles. There are numerous LAAT variants: the LAAT/i infantry transport, the LAAT/c cargo carrier, the LAAT/s stealth special forces
Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...
, the LAAT/le law enforcement
Law enforcement is the activity of some members of government who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by discovering, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms governing that society. The term en ...
for military police, and LAAT/v vehicle tactical airlift that carried AT-TEs.
Lucas turned to footage of helicopter-troop deployment when conceiving the LAAT; the vehicle was originally labeled the "Jedi attack helicopter", a versatile gunship platform combining the functions of a black hawk Black Hawk and Blackhawk may refer to:
Animals
* Black Hawk (horse), a Morgan horse that lived from 1833 to 1856
* Common black hawk, ''Buteogallus anthracinus''
* Cuban black hawk, ''Buteogallus gundlachii''
* Great black hawk, ''Buteogallus ur ...
a chinook and an Apache
The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño an ...
. The vehicle's ultimate appearance is based on the Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
n Mil Mi-24 helicopter. The craft's engine sounds are the modified sound of a Vickers Vimy, a World War I bomber. Both Hasbro and Lego
Lego ( , ; stylized as LEGO) is a line of plastic construction toys that are manufactured by The Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of variously colored interlocking ...
released LAAT models in 2002; Lego released another LAAT in 2008. Code 3 Collectibles
Code 3 Collectibles was an American company based in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles that created customized scale model vehicles. The company was founded by Arnie Rubin, who had previously established Funrise Toy Corporation, owner of Tonka among ot ...
released a die-cast gunship two years later.
Within the ''Star Wars'' universe, these repulsorlift gunships were built by Rothana Heavy Engineering to serve a vital role as atmospheric transports and escorts for the Republic
A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
during the Clone Wars Clone Wars may refer to:
Star Wars Film and television
* ''Star Wars: Clone Wars'' (2003 TV series), an American animated television series set in the ''Star Wars'' galaxy
* ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' (2008 TV series), an American 3D CGI anim ...
.[Walker (2018), p. 17][Barr, et al. (2019), p. 301-302] The standard LAAT/i gunship (Low Altitude Assault Transport/infantry), measuring long (clearance with guns) and deep with a wingspan, can carry a platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two or more squads, sections, or patrols. Platoon organization varies depending on the country and the branch, but a platoon can be composed of 50 people, although specific platoons may range ...
of 30 clone trooper
Clone troopers are fictional characters in the ''Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. They have been featured in a number of ''Star Wars'' media, including the live-action films '' Episode II: Attack of the Clones'' (2002) and '' Ep ...
s with storage racks for several speeder bikes.[Dougherty, et al. (2020), p. 70-73] With a maximum air speed of , the LAAT was designed specifically with low-atmosphere flight in mind, giving it an advantage engaging enemy starfighters which give up their speed advantage when fighting below mountain
A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited Summit (topography), summit area, and ...
level.[ Later models however were adapted to allow short trips in deep space.][ The gunship's weaponry includes three antipersonnel laser cannons on swivel turrets, two forward and one rear; four composite-beam laser turrets, two mounted on the wings and two on ball turrets extending from either side; two mass driver missile launchers which can accelerate a variety of missiles at up to ]hypersonic
In aerodynamics, a hypersonic speed is one that exceeds 5 times the speed of sound, often stated as starting at speeds of Mach 5 and above.
The precise Mach number at which a craft can be said to be flying at hypersonic speed varies, since in ...
velocities; and eight light air-to-air rockets carried on underwing hardpoint
A hardpoint is an attachment location on a structural frame designed to transfer force and carry an external or internal load. The term is usually used to refer to the mounting points (more formally known as a weapon station or station) on the ...
s.[ The LAAT/i is crewed by a pilot, copilot/gunner, and two auxiliary turret gunners. It also carries a variety of emergency supplies, including an IM-6 Battlefield Medical Droid, collapsible repulsor stretchers, and inflatable decontamination tents.][
Another variant, the LAAT/c (Low Altitude Assault Transport/carrier), is crewed by a single pilot and armed with just the nose-mounted cannons, but features a pair of magnetic clamps that can quickly ferry cargo or AT-TEs into battle.][Walker (2018), p. 17][
]
Self-propelled heavy artillery (SPHA)
Self-propelled heavy artillery first appear in ''Attack of the Clones'' during the Battle of Geonosis. The vehicle was initially designed on treads, but George Lucas
George Walton Lucas Jr. (born May 14, 1944) is an American filmmaker. Lucas is best known for creating the ''Star Wars'' and ''Indiana Jones'' franchises and founding Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic and THX. He served as chairm ...
suggested that it be equipped with legs like the AT-TEs that fight alongside it. The SPHA was referred to as "Clone Tank A" during production. Source material identifies the SPHA as one of the biggest ground guns in the Republic
A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
's arsenals during the Clone Wars Clone Wars may refer to:
Star Wars Film and television
* ''Star Wars: Clone Wars'' (2003 TV series), an American animated television series set in the ''Star Wars'' galaxy
* ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' (2008 TV series), an American 3D CGI anim ...
, operated by a crew of 30 clone trooper
Clone troopers are fictional characters in the ''Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. They have been featured in a number of ''Star Wars'' media, including the live-action films '' Episode II: Attack of the Clones'' (2002) and '' Ep ...
s. At long, the SPHA is slow but steady, reaching speeds of up to on 12 articulate legs though it must remain stationary to fire its weapon. The SPHA-T is armed with a heavy turbolaser
A blaster is a fictional gun that appears in the ''Star Wars'' universe. Lucasfilm defines the blaster as "ranged energized particle weaponry". Many blasters mirror the appearance, functions, components, operation, and usage of real life firearm ...
cannon powerful enough to destroy a starship, though firing it requires vast amounts of energy which can quickly drain the SPHA-T.[Walker (2018), p. 58]
Joe Pappalardo of ''Popular Mechanics'' has criticized the design of the SPHA for using legs compared to wheels or treads which would be easier to maintain.
Single Trooper Aerial Platform (STAP)
STAPs, which first appeared in ''The Phantom Menace'' and have featured in other Star Wars media, are designed to appear reminiscent of the speeder bikes seen in ''Return of the Jedi''. The STAP's design also relates back to Lucas' 1973 idea of ridable "jet-sticks" which appeared in early drafts of the original ''Star Wars
''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop-culture Cultural impact of S ...
'' movie. A draft of ''The Phantom Menace'' refers to the vehicles as STAPS, or ''Single Troop Armed Pogo Sticks''.
These lightweight reconnaissance vehicles are based in-universe on civilian vehicles called airhooks, modified for greater performance and to be piloted by the Trade Federation's battle droid
In the ''Star Wars'' space opera franchise, a droid is a fictional robot possessing some degree of artificial intelligence''.'' The term is a clipped form of " android", a word originally reserved for robots designed to look and act like a huma ...
s. Floating above the ground thanks to " repulsorlift" technology, a pair of drive turbines on either side of the vertical stem gives it impressive speed and maneuverability. Though armed with a pair of blaster cannons, the STAP leaves its pilot completely exposed, making it ill-suit for heavy battle.
Swamp speeder
Swamp speeders appear in ''Revenge of the Sith'' during battle scenes on Felucia
The fictional universe of the ''Star Wars'' franchise features multiple planets and moons. While only the feature films and selected other works are considered canon to the franchise since the 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm by The Walt Disney ...
and Kashyyyk
Wookiees () are fictional humanoid aliens in the ''Star Wars'' universe, native to the forest planet Kashyyyk. They are distinguished from humans by their gigantism, hirsutism, and physical strength. The most prominent Wookiee is Chewbacca, c ...
. TJ Frame, who worked on the swamp speeder concept soon after joining the art department, initially designed the craft to be appear reminiscent of fanboats. Within the ''Star Wars'' universe these vehicles are known as Infantry Support Platform (ISP) speeders, built for the Republic
A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
during the Clone Wars Clone Wars may refer to:
Star Wars Film and television
* ''Star Wars: Clone Wars'' (2003 TV series), an American animated television series set in the ''Star Wars'' galaxy
* ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' (2008 TV series), an American 3D CGI anim ...
by Uulshos Manufacturing. ISPs use repulsorlifts and a powerful turbofan
The turbofan or fanjet is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used in aircraft engine, aircraft propulsion. The word "turbofan" is a portmanteau of "turbine" and "fan": the ''turbo'' portion refers to a gas turbine engine which ac ...
to patrol swampy regions, leading to their nickname, although they can be used on almost any terrain. Operated by two clone trooper
Clone troopers are fictional characters in the ''Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. They have been featured in a number of ''Star Wars'' media, including the live-action films '' Episode II: Attack of the Clones'' (2002) and '' Ep ...
s and armed with a pair of twin swiveling blaster cannons, the ISP can move at speeds of up to .
Wheel bike
General Grievous
General Grievous is a character and antagonist in the ''Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. Grievous was introduced in the 2003 animated series '' Star Wars: Clone Wars'' (voiced by John DiMaggio in the second season and Richard McGo ...
rides a wheel bike in ''Revenge of the Sith'' during his confrontation with Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi () is a fictional Character (arts), character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. Within the Star Wars original trilogy, original trilogy, Obi-Wan is a Jedi Master as a supporting character and is portrayed by English actor Alec Guinn ...
( Ewan McGregor). Grievous' vehicle is similar to another wheel bike that appears in the '' Star Wars: Droids'' cartoon. One concept for Grievous' vehicle was for it to include "tank-like chariots"; at another point, the vehicle was going to be another droid.
Grievous' wheel bike is identified in ''Star Wars'' source material as a TSMEU-6 personal wheel bike built by the Z-Gomot Ternbuell Guppat Corporation. Wheel bikes are described as being primarily used during mining operations, however they are also popular as modified weapons platforms on the second-hand market. The TSMEU-6 is long with a wheel diameter of and four retractable legs for navigating difficult terrain. With the legs retracted the wheel bike has a maximum speed of , while in walking mode the bike can only attain . Overall the bike has enough fuel to travel . While normally carrying a driver and passenger, Grievous' bike has had the passenger seat replaced with a heavy double laser cannon; both seat and cannon remain stable while the wheel rotates around them.
Wookiee flying catamaran
Wookiee
Wookiees () are fictional humanoid aliens in the ''Star Wars'' universe, native to the forest planet Kashyyyk. They are distinguished from humans by their gigantism, hirsutism, and physical strength. The most prominent Wookiee is Chewbacca, c ...
flying catamaran
A Formula 16 beachable catamaran
Powered catamaran passenger ferry at Salem, Massachusetts, United States
A catamaran () (informally, a "cat") is a multi-hulled watercraft featuring two parallel hulls of equal size. It is a geometry-stab ...
s appear in ''Revenge of the Sith''. They were originally conceived as strictly water vehicles. The addition of a rotor came late in production; some printed works do not depict this component.
Wookiee ornithopter
Wookiee ornithopters appear in ''Revenge of the Sith''. The craft was originally known as the "dragonfly helicopter". Although mostly depicted through computer-generated imagery, a full-size mockup of the gunner's seat was created for a closeup of the tail gunner.
Vehicles appearing in other ''Star Wars'' media
Imperial Assault Tank
The Imperial Assault Tank is a ground vehicle which made its theatrical debut in '' Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'' patrolling the streets of Jedha's Old City and has appeared in other media including '' Star Wars Rebels''.[Barr, et al. (2018), p. 326] The life-sized model which appeared on the ''Rogue One'' set was based on a heavily modified flatbed Alvis Stormer piloted by experienced tank operators. Although the tank had initially been intended to be a hover vehicle, it was decided to keep the treads after production.
Official sources identify the vehicle as the TX-225 "Occupier" combat assault tank manufactured by Rothana Heavy Engineering for the Galactic Empire
Galactic empires are a common trope used in science fantasy and science fiction, particularly in works known as 'space operas'. Many authors have either used a galaxy-spanning empire as background or written about the growth and/or decline of s ...
. Measuring long and high, this ground assault vehicle (GAV) can reach a top speed of on open roads and is crewed by a tank commander, driver, and gunner/technician.[Dougherty, et al. (2020), p. 126-127] Its armament includes a pair of elevating twin Dymek Mk2e/w medium laser cannons for antiarmor & antiaircraft use and a forward-locked twin Dymek MK 2e/w medium laser cannon for antipersonnel use. Composite laminate armoring makes the tank remarkably resilient without overtaxing its propulsion system. Two variants of the "Occupier" are employed by the Empire: the standard TX-225 GAVw utilizing a continuous track
Continuous track is a system of vehicle propulsion used in tracked vehicles, running on a continuous band of treads or track plates driven by two or more wheels. The large surface area of the tracks distributes the weight of the vehicle b ...
which makes it highly maneuverable in urban environments, and the TX-225 GAVr which hovers slightly above the ground on repulsorlifts.[
]
Imperial Troop Transport
The Imperial Trooper Transport is a vehicle which made its television debut in '' Star Wars Rebels'' and has appeared in other ''Star Wars'' media including '' The Mandalorian''. According to official sources, the K79-S80 Imperial Troop Transport (ITT) is an armored troop transport which uses repulsorlift technology to deliver Stormtroopers into battle. Manufactured by Ubrikkian Industries, the ITT measures long and can achieve a top speed of . Although not designed specifically for combat, the ITT is armed with two forward-facing laser guns and a roof-mounted twin laser turret to defend itself. In addition to carrying troops the ITT is also used to ferry supplies or prisoners between locations; the cargo racks on either side of the ITT double as holding compartments for publicly displaying prisoners as a warning to others.[Barr, et al. (2019), p. 320]
Bibliography
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
References
External links
Index of Vehicle Archive at starwars.com
*
Intricate Illustrations of Star Wars Spacecraft Cutouts Reveal Their Inner Mechanics
by Leah Pellegrini April 23, 2016
{{DEFAULTSORT:Air, Aquatic, And Ground Vehicles
*
Star Wars lists